The small Canary Island of Lanzarote is home to a surprisingly large number of visitor attractions.  But the island’s biggest draw is undoubtedly the awe inspiring Timanfaya National Park.  Which is Lanzarote´s leading natural wonder and lies right at the heart of a series of enormous volcanic eruptions which rocked the island repeatedly during the 18th and 19th centuries.

These eruptions first started in 1730 – lasting for six years.  With a further major seismic shook occurring again in 1824.  These episodes totally remodelled the terrain in the south of the island.  Wiping out villages and farmland and replacing them with lava fields and over 300 new volcanoes.

At the time these events obviously caused enormous devastation and disruption.  Many Lanzaroteños lost their homes and livelihoods and were forced to flee – seeking a new life abroad in places such as central and Latin America.  Their movements have been carefully traced at Lanzarote’s Emigration Museum in Teguise – which provides a fascinating insight into these events.

The volcanic region was declared a National Park during the 1960´s – and a local artist called César Manrique was drafted in to help turn this into a workable tourist attraction. Discerning a route through the park for tour coaches and creating a highly imaganative restaurant in the centre of Timanfaya – known as the Devils Diner – which enjoys panoramic views of the Park.  And where visitors can enjoy watching their food cooked over a large grill powered by the heat emanating from a volcano below.

Timanfaya National Park started to welcome visitors during the 1970s and today it’s popularity has grown to such an extent that last year over 900,000 travellers toured the volcanic peaks and lava fields.  Which are often said to resemble the surface of the moon.  Such is their lunar appearance in fact that the Apollo 13 astronauts were even show pictures of the park before making their own moon landings.

Visitors can also view the outskirts of the Park on camel back – with regular trains departing from the Camel station just ten minutes down the road from the main entrance of Timanfaya.

The Timanfaya National Park is located in the municipality of Yaiza and is a must see for anyone spending their holidays in Lanzarote.  Located around fifteen minutes drive from the main resorts of Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca.  The Park is open daily from 10.00 to 17.45 and admission costs €8 for adults and €4 for children.

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The situated in the south-eastern party of the present city Varna Roman thermae (balnearia, Balneae and balineae also) are the biggest public, ancient building ever found in Bulgaria, after Perperikon probably. These quite preserved walls are tracing out the imposing dimensions of this building, erected up on about 7000 square meters terrain. The fat walls has been built in specific technology, that take it in turns stone wall and five to six ranges of densely clay bricks. That inside stairs and the vault arch of the doors are shaped by enormous stone blocks, there are still rests at some places from terrific mosaic fragments. They are giving us quite good imagination for the rich decoration of the public building, along with the marble fragments, the capitals and the tiges. walking through the spacious auditoriums, that are natural barrier for the cold air, the visitors of the baths have been entering enormous auditorium, named balnea. Extremely big interest even nowadays gets the heat system, connected with the double ground and special vesicles.
The object is situated at the corner of “San Stefano”str. and ” Khan Krum” str. where you can see also ‘ the Assu of Most Holy Merry’ Temple.

http://www.ancient-bulgaria.com

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Perperikon (or Hyperperakion or Perperakion) is in the Eastern Rhodope range, some 12 miles from the town of Kurdzhali. The roads from Sofia, via Asenovgrad or Haskovo, are fairly good and well maintained. Perperikon is perched on a rocky peak at 1,400 ft above sea level guarded at its foot by the village of Gorna Krepost [high castle]. The gold-bearing river Perpereshka flows nearby forming a valley some 7 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.

This fertile sheltered place had attracted settlers in very ancient times, and today, dozens of sites clustered around the natural hub of Perperikon reveal layer upon layer of archaeological remains. Just a little further downstream, the Perpereshka flows into the artificial lake of Stouden Kladenets on the river Arda. Where the two bodies of water meet, is the village of Kaloyantsi, a scenic place with some tourist facilities.

Below you can see road map of how to get to Perperikon and Izometric drawings of this altar.

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Is it simply a temple? How could it take its place among other unique structures such as the Pyramid, the Hanging Gardens, and the Colossus of Rhodes? For the people who actually visited it, the answer was simple. It was not just a temple… It was the most beautiful structure on earth… It was built in honor of the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature. That was the Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus.

Location
The ancient city of Ephesus near the modern town of Selcuk, about 50 km south of Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey.

History
Although the foundation of the temple dates back to the seventh century BC, the structure that earned a spot in the list of Wonders was built around 550 BC. Referred to as the great marble temple, or temple D, it was sponsored by the Lydian king Croesus and was designed by the Greek architect Chersiphron. It was decorated with bronze statues sculpted by the most skilled artists of their time: Pheidias, Polycleitus, Kresilas, and Phradmon.

The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits with her. Recent archeological excavations at the site revealed gifts from pilgrims including statuettes of Artemis made of gold and ivory… earrings, bracelets, and necklaces… artifacts from as far as Persia and India.

On the night of 21 July 356 BC, a man named Herostratus burned the temple to ground in an attempt to immortalize his name. He did indeed. Strangely enough, Alexander the Great was born the same night. The Roman historian Plutarch later wrote that the goddess was “too busy taking care of the birth of Alexander to send help to her threatened temple”. Over the next two decades, the temple was restored and is labeled “temple E” by archeologists. And when Alexander the Great conquered Asia Minor, he helped rebuild the destroyed temple.

When St Paul visited Ephesus to preach Christianity in the first century AD, he was confronted by the Artemis’ cult who had no plans to abandon their goddess. And when the temple was again destroyed by the Goths in AD 262, the Ephesians vowed to rebuild. By the fourth century AD, most Ephesians had converted to Christianity and the temple lost its religious glamor. The final chapter came when in AD 401 the Temple of Artemis was torn down by St John Chrysostom. Ephesus was later deserted, and only in the late nineteenth century has the site been excavated. The digging revealed the temple’s foundation and the road to the now swampy site. Attempts were recently made to rebuilt the temple, but only a few columns have been re-erected.

Description
The foundation of the temple was rectangular in form, similar to most temples at the time. Unlike other sanctuaries, however, the building was made of marble, with a decorated façade overlooking a spacious courtyard. Marble steps surrounding the building platform led to the high terrace which was approximately 80 m (260 ft) by 130 m (430 ft) in plan. The columns were 20 m (60 ft) high with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides. There were 127 columns in total, aligned orthogonally over the whole platform area, except for the central cella or house of the goddess.

The temple housed many works of art, including four ancient bronze statues of Amazons sculpted by the finest artists at the time. When St Paul visited the city, the temple was adorned with golden pillars and silver statuettes, and was decorated with paintings. There is no evidence that a statue of the goddess herself was placed at the center of the sanctuary, but there is no reason not to believe so.

The early detailed descriptions of the temple helped archeologists reconstruct the building. Many reconstructions such as that by H.F. von Erlach depicted the façade with a four-column porch which never existed. More accurate reconstructions may give us an idea about the general layout of the temple. However, its true beauty lies in the architectural and artistic details which will forever remain unknown.

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The Great Barrier Reef is the only living organic collective visible from the earth the ‘orbit of s. The great barrier reef, the east coast of Australia, is one of the wonders of the natural world – is the largest ecosystem in the world ‘s. coral reef It was declared a World Heritage area in 1981 and added to the national heritage list in 2007.

The reef is scattered with beautiful islands and idyllic coral islands covering over 300,000 square kilometers. The Great Barrier Reef system consists of more than 3000 reefs which range in size from 1 hectare to over 10,000 hectares in area. The island is one of the key more than 600 islands in the great barrier reef.

Human activity on reef areas has led to increased pollutants and the reef has suffered damage. Reef protection is the responsibility of the marine park. In 2003, the Australian government and previous governments of Queensland, in partnership with a wide range of industry groups and community, developed the plan of the vein of protecting the water quality of the reef (the reef) as a combined effort to protect the reef.

Of particular concern is the wetlands – which have declined by over 50 percent since the establishment in Europe. The major program of coastal wetlands protection barrier reef is developing measures for the long-term conservation and management of priority wetlands.

The coral

Corals consist of several islets and reefs. These are the basis for the wide variety of sea and animal life in the bonanza. The choir consists of the individual coral polyps – tiny living creatures that join together to form colonies. Each polyp lives inside a shell of aragonite, a type of calcium carbonate that is the hard shell that we recognize as coral. The polyps join together to create forests of colored coral in interesting ways fan of horns, the brain and of the plate.

The ideal environment for coral is hot down where there is much water movement, lots of light, which is salt water and low in nutrients. There are many different types of coral, something is slow growing and live to be hundreds of years, others are growing more quickly. The colors of coral are created by algae. Only live coral is colored. The dead coral is white.

One of the biggest dangers to the habitat is the crown of the sea stars from the bones. Since the 60s the crown of thorns has been destroying the corals that make up the reef. The crown of thorns outbreaks happen with a series of steps that may take from 1 to 15 years. The impact of a crown of thorns infestation of the living from the sea and the bird can be significant while the corals die.

Another whip is reef bleaching, where corals have died in large numbers. This phenomenon is not unique to Queensland ‘andalusia great barrier reef s, but has been seen in the veins around the world. It is thought that the money has been caused by increases in water temperature associated with the effect of El Nino, but the evidence is inconclusive.

The coral, over the years, many ships had been brought to punishment, including Captain James Cook ‘effort to craft s. One of the most famous ruins of the HMS pandora, which collapsed in 1791. The Queensland Museum has been pushed to the main archaeological pandora since 1983 and his most recent was completed in February 1999. There are 30 known shipwreck sites in the marine park.

The habitat

The World Heritage area receives many native habitat or environments where they live animals and plants naturally.

Various degrees of protection are provided for various habitat in the area of world heritage. One of the main aims of the plan is to maintain biodiversity within reef ecosystem largest reef habitat as well as several to help sustain the biodiversity of species and population levels.

The great barrier reef area abounds with wildlife, including dugong and green turtles, varieties of dolphins and whales, more than 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of mollusc and more than 200 species of bird life. However, in 2006 it was reported that during the past 40 years, the ‘silly numbers of turtles nesting has declined from nearly 50 percent and 80 percent, and estimates of dugong populations indicates that are currently only about 3 percent of which were in the early 60 .

Since 2004, rezoning various areas of the reef was introduced to try and recognize important habitat and various species of fish identified as dominant targets of protection.
Tourism

Over two million people visit the reef each year generating more than $ AU2 billion in tourism dollars, making tourism a major buyer for the Australian economy in the northeast. More than 500 commercial vessels to carry tourists to the reef, and tourism is permitted through most of the park.

Most of the reef is part of a large marine park barrier reef and the various parts of it are protected in certain ways. For example, fishing is restricted in some areas and protecting the individual animals – including whales, dolphins, green turtles and dugong -.

Tourism can also have a negative impact, with fragile corals broken by anchors who walk, falls in the vein or by ships dropping fuel and other kinds of pollution. Even the number of people in the water associated with the output of sweat lotions and tan may have a negative impact on the fragile reef environment.

Before visiting the marine park great barrier reef, it is important you study the map of the division for the area you are visiting to be sure the activities you can do and where you can make.

The marine park authority also recognizes the need to protect cultural values and heritage conducted by the traditional owners. Since 2004, the owners and the indigenous traditional state agencies are working together regarding the traditional use of marine resources.

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Fruits and flowers… Waterfalls… Gardens hanging from the palace terraces… Exotic animals… This is the picture of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in most people’s minds. It may be surprising to know that they might have never existed except in Greek poets and historians imagination!

Location
On the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq.

History
The Babylonian kingdom flourished under the rule of the famous King, Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC). It was not until the reign of Naboplashar (625-605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty that the Mesopotamian civilization reached its ultimate glory. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) is credited for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. It is said that the Gardens were built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been “brought up in Media and had a passion for mountain surroundings”.

While the most descriptive accounts of the Gardens come from Greek historians such as Berossus and Diodorus Siculus, Babylonian records stay silent on the matter. Tablets from the time of Nebuchadnezzar do not have a single reference to the Hanging Gardens, although descriptions of his palace, the city of Babylon, and the walls are found. Even the historians who give detailed descriptions of the Hanging Gardens never saw them. Modern historians argue that when Alexander’s soldiers reached the fertile land of Mesopotamia and saw Babylon, they were impressed. When they later returned to their rugged homeland, they had stories to tell about the amazing gardens and palm trees at Mesopotamia.. About the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.. About the Tower of Babel and the ziggurats. And it was the imagination of poets and ancient historians that blended all these elements together to produce one of the World Wonders.

It wasn’t until the twentieth century that some of the mysteries surrounding the Hanging Gardens were revealed. Archaeologists are still struggling to gather enough evidence before reaching the final conclusions about the location of the Gardens, their irrigation system, and their true appearance.

Description
Detailed descriptions of the Gardens come from ancient Greek sources, including the writings of Strabo and Philo of Byzantium. Here are some excerpts from their accounts:

“The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It consists of arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The ascent of the uppermost terrace-roofs is made by a stairway…”

“The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole mass is supported on stone columns… Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping channels… These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area moist. Hence the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches… This is a work of art of royal luxury and its most striking feature is that the labor of cultivation is suspended above the heads of the spectators”.

More recent archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq uncovered the foundation of the palace. Other findings include the Vaulted Building with thick walls and an irrigation well near the southern palace. A group of archaeologists surveyed the area of the southern palace and reconstructed the Vaulted Building as the Hanging Gardens. However, the Greek historian Strabo had stated that the gardens were situated by the River Euphrates. So others argue that the site is too far from the Euphrates to support the theory since the Vaulted Building is several hundreds of meters away. They reconstructed the site of the palace and located the Gardens in the area stretching from the River to the Palace. On the river banks, recently discovered massive walls 25 m thick may have been stepped to form terraces… the ones described in Greek references.

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t is the one and only Wonder which does not require a description by early historians and poets. It is the one and only Wonder that does not need speculations concerning its appearance, size, and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Location:
At the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.

History
Contrary to the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three Great Pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies. The tradition of pyramid building started in Ancient Egypt as a sophistication of the idea of a mastaba or “platform” covering the royal tomb. Later, several stacked mastabas were used. Early pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (Djoser) at Saqqara by the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep, illustrate this connection.

The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the years) was then used to smooth the surface. Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A second theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot.

Throughout their history, the pyramids of Giza have stimulated human imagination. They were referred to as “The Granaries of Joseph” and “The Mountains of Pharaoh”. When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, his pride was expressed through his famous quote: “Soldats! Du haute de ces Pyramides, 40 siècles nous contemplent”. (Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us)

Today, the Great Pyramid is enclosed, together with the other pyramids and the Sphinx, in the touristic region of the Giza Plateau. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid. It may also serve him as a means of transportation in his afterlife journey according to Ancient Egyptian beliefs.

Description
When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its surface (some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre’s pyramid). The sloping angle of its sides is 54 degrees 54 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass, that is, north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%.

The structure consists of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3 m (10 ft) high, 0.3 m (1 ft) thick wall around France. The area covered by the Great pyramid can accommodate St Peter’s in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St Paul’s in London combined.

On the north face, is the pyramid’s entrance. A number of corridors, galleries, and escape shafts either lead to the King’s burial chamber, or were intended to serve other functions. The King’s chamber is located at the heart of the pyramid, only accessible through the Great Gallery and an ascending corridor. The King’s sarcophagus is made of red granite, as are the interior walls of the King’s Chamber. Most impressive is the sharp-edged stone over the doorway which is over 3 m (10 ft) long, 2.4 m (8 feet) high and 1.3 m (4 ft) thick. All of the interior stones fit so well, a card won’t fit between them. The sarcophagus is oriented in accordance with the compass directions, and is only about 1 cm smaller in dimensions than the chamber entrance. It might have been introduced as the structure was progressing.

New theories concerning the origin and purpose of the Pyramids of Giza have been proposed… Astronomic observatories… Places of cult worship… Geometric structures constructed by a long-gone civilization… Even extraterrestrial-related theories have been proposed with little evidence in support… The overwhelming scientific and historic evidence still supports the conclusion that, like many smaller pyramids in the region, the Great Pyramids were built by the great Ancient Egyptian civilization off the West bank of the Nile as tombs for their magnificent Kings… Tombs where Khufu, Khefre, and Menkaure could start their mystic journey to the afterlife.

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The name Alhambra comes from an Arabic root which means “red or crimson castle”, perhaps due to the hue of the towers and walls that surround the entire hill of La Sabica which by starlight is silver but by sunlight is transformed into gold. But there is another more poetic version, evoked by the Moslem analysts who speak of the construction of the Alhambra fortress “by the light of torches”, the reflections of which gave the walls their particular coloration. Created originally for military purposes, the Alhambra was an “alcazaba” (fortress), an “alcázar” (palace) and a small “medina” (city), all in one. This triple character helps to explain many distinctive features of the monument.There is no reference to the Alhambra as being a residence of kings until the 13th century, even though the fortress had existed since the 9th century. The first kings of Granada, the Zirites, had their castles and palaces on the hill of the Albaicin, and nothing remains of them. The Nasrites were probably the emirs who built the Alhambra, starting in 1238.

The founder of the dynasty, Muhammed Al-Ahmar, began with the restoration of the old fortress. His work was completed by his son Muhammed II, whose immediate successors continued with the repairs. The construction of the palaces (called Casa Real Vieja, “old Royal House or Palace”) dates back to the 14th century and is the work of two great kings: Yusuf I and Muhammed V. To the first we owe, among others, the “Cuarto de Comares” (Chamber of Comares), the “Puerta de la Justicia” (Gate of Justice), the Baths and some towers. His son, Muhammed V, completed the beautification of the palaces with the “Cuarto de los Leones” (Chamber of the Lions), as well as other rooms and fortifications.
The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabel) conquered the city of Granada. Later, various structures were built for prominent civilians also military garrisons, a church and a Franciscan monastery.Emperor Charles V, who spent several months in Granada, began the construction of the palace which bears his name and made some alterations to the interior buildings. These measures were to cause interminable controversy often motivated by political agendas. The remaining Austrian kings did not forget the monument and have left their own more discreet impressions on it.During the 18th century and part of the 19th, the Alhambra fell into neglect and was to see its salons converted into dungheaps and taverns,occupied by thieves and beggars. “Thus bats defile abandoned castles, and the reality of Spanish criminals and beggars destroy the illusion of this fairy palace of the Moors;” writes Richard Ford. As the crowning blow, Napoleon’s troops, masters of Granada from 1808 until 1812, were to convert the palaces into barracks During one retreat they mined the towers and blew up part of them. Two of them, the Torre de Siete Suelos and the Torre de Agua were left in ruins. And so the incredible neglect continued, until 1870 when the Alhambra was declared a national monument. Travellers and romantic artists of all countries had railed against those who scorned the most beautiful of their monuments. Since that date and up to now, the Alhambra, protected, restored, cared for and even improved, has been preserved for the pleasure and admiration of all.

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Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an “elegy in marble” or some say an expression of a “dream.” Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan’s real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.

Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.

The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole.

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Petra is a stunning city carved from a cliff face. Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a world-renowned monument, it is one of those wonders that makes you think about how little we seem to have progressed since ancient times.
The Nabataeans were a powerful Arab dynasty around the 3rd century BC. The meeting point of several major Nabataean caravan routes, Petra grew as a centre of commerce. It flourished for centuries until it was occupied by the Romans in 106 AD. Then, shipping routes replaced camel routes and Petra fell into decline. It was only in 1812 that the city got some attention again, when it was “rediscovered” by Swiss adventurer, John Burckhardt.

The “city” is carved from sandstone in a deep canyon and is only accessible through a narrow winding cleft in the rock. The most famous ruin is the Khazneh, or Treasury, which greets you when you walk through the cleft. Other highlights include the monastery (with its amazing views), an 8000-seat amphitheatre and the Temple of the Winged Lions, which is still in the process of excavation.

You’re not going to be alone when you visit, but it’s easy to forget other tourists when faced with such an awesome monument to civilisations past. Spend some time here and watch the colours change with the light.

Useful links:

http://www.petra-marathon.com/

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